Nearly two dozen California deer zones are opening to rifle hunting in the final weeks of September, putting the 2026 season into high gear across much of the state
California’s 2026 deer season is hitting its busiest stretch, with general rifle seasons now opening across much of Northern California, the Sierra Nevada and eastern portions of the state.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) says almost two dozen deer hunt zones open to rifle hunting during the final weeks of September. The major wave began September 19 and continues September 26, when another eight zones open.
September 19 and September 26 Openers
On September 19, general deer season opened in B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C1, C2, C3, C4, D6, D7, X9A, X9B and X12.
Then, on September 26, general season opens in D3, D4, D5, D8, D9, D10, X8 and X10.
These openers follow California’s earlier deer seasons, including the A Zone general season, which opened August 8. Other zones and special hunts have different dates, so hunters should not assume that neighboring zones follow the same schedule.
CDFW provides individual regulations and maps for each A, B, C, D and X deer zone on its Deer Hunting page.
Know Your Zone and Tag
California’s deer system can be complicated, particularly where multiple zones meet. Hunters need a valid California hunting license and the appropriate deer tag for the area they intend to hunt.
Zone boundaries are especially important. A short drive, or even crossing a ridge or road, can put a hunter into a different deer zone with different season dates or tag requirements.
Hunters should also remember that nonlead ammunition is required when taking wildlife anywhere in California.
After a successful harvest, hunters must properly complete and attach the deer tag and have it validated as required. All California deer tags must eventually be reported, including tags that were never filled.
Successful hunters must report their deer tag within 30 days of harvest or by January 31, 2027, whichever comes first. Hunters who are unsuccessful or never hunt must still report their tags by January 31, 2027.
Don’t Forget About CWD
Chronic Wasting Disease is now another consideration for California deer hunters. CDFW confirms that CWD has been detected in the state, and deer harvested from following hunt zones are subject to mandatory testing requirements: D7, X9A, X9B, X9C.
Testing remains voluntary across most of California, and CDFW operates sampling stations and works with participating meat processors and taxidermists to collect samples. Hunters traveling between areas should check current CWD rules before their hunt rather than assuming the requirements are the same statewide.
Bear Season Is Opening Too
Deer hunters heading into the field should also be aware that California’s general black bear season opens concurrently with general deer season in the A, B, C and D zones, as well as X8, X9A, X9B, X10 and X12.
That means the September 19 and September 26 deer openers also bring additional bear country into the general bear season. In the remaining X zones open to bear hunting, general bear season begins October 10. The season runs through December 27 unless CDFW closes it earlier after 1,700 bears have been reported taken.
There is also a significant change for 2026: California increased the annual limit from one bear to two bears, allowing licensed hunters to purchase up to two bear tags per license year. The state also expanded bear hunt-area boundaries to include all of Lassen and Modoc counties. The statewide 1,700-bear season threshold remains in place.
CDFW reported 150 bears harvested as of September 21, meaning the statewide season threshold was still far from being reached at that point. Hunters can follow the latest count on CDFW’s Bear Hunting page.
Check Closures Before Heading Into the Field
An open deer zone does not necessarily mean every piece of public land within it is accessible. Wildfires, emergency closures, road conditions and seasonal restrictions can affect National Forest, BLM and other public lands during California’s fall hunting season.
CDFW specifically advises hunters to check for area closures and restrictions before traveling and to contact the agency responsible for the land they intend to hunt.
That is particularly important for hunters traveling long distances into the Sierra Nevada or other remote areas where fire conditions and access can change quickly.
Keep California Hunting Regulations at Your Fingertips with Hunterizer
With dozens of deer zones, different opening and closing dates, overlapping bear seasons and other location-specific regulations, California can be one of the more complicated states in which to plan a hunt. And if you also carry a shotgun into the field, make sure you know which quail, grouse, rabbit and other small-game seasons are open in the area you’re hunting.
The Hunterizer app helps simplify that process by showing hunters what they can legally hunt at their location on a specific date, along with season dates, hunting zones, legal weapons, bag limits, shooting hours and other important regulations.
Before heading out this fall, check your hunt in Hunterizer and make sure you know what’s open where you’re hunting.
